Tyres for a Catrike Trail with front fenders

[avolve]

I picked up a Catrike Trail recently (pre folding model), and looking for some larger tyres, alongside mounting front fenders — it will become my daily commuter (~30kms).

I have noted the Maxxis Hookworm is used by some riders on the front, as Big Apples are a little too large for the fenders (though the Hookworms might cause issues as well?)? Any other recommendations?

Craig (Recumbents & Specialised Cycling, St Ives) does not have any fenders in stock — any recommendations for another source?

[Duck!]

Check the ISO measurement of the rims & tyres to be sure what is going to fit. To be really confusing, there are two rim diameters in common use for both so-called 16" and 20" tyres. BMX-oriented 16" wheels use a 305mm rim diameter, while 'bents (both trikes and bikes) and folders typically use slightly larger 349mm rims. For 20", the rim sizes are 406mm for BMX-derived stuff, and 451mm for 'bents, trikes, folders and - oddly - racing BMX.

Ignore the 16 x 1.5" or whatever is relevant tyre size printed on the tyre; the real tyre size is the ISO, which is written as 37-349 or whatever. The first part is the tyre width, so 37mm in this example, for a 349mm rim - this latter is the important bit, that's what you need to match the tyres & rims with. This is a common size on 'bents with so-called 16" wheels. A BMX-derived 16" tyre might have an ISO of 54-305 or similar.

[avolve]

Thanks @Duck.

The Trail has 20" rims, and the ISO size for the current tyres are 27-406 (so easier to get tyres, fortunately).

[John Lewis]

For a commute+ and also Swalbe Racersr you don't want something that punctures easily.

On our trikes we have used Swalbe Marathon with very good results. Not had a puncture in years. (That's done it. probably have one tomorrow if the puncture fairy is listening.)

The Marathons aren't the fastest tyres in the world but pretty bullet proof.

Was about to fill you in onall the rim sizes but Duck has beaten me to it.

We have 349 on our Logo Trikes and it can be a problem at times to get tyres so glad to see you have the pretty standard 406 rim.

John

[avolve]

I went with hookworms on the front and a big apple on the back.

I had read that the mudguards might not accommodate larger tyres (hence the slightly smaller hookworms). A small spacer was all I needed. I will consider big apples for when the hookworms expire.

I have noticed a speed drop, I assume to rolling resistance of the bigger tyres. This is balanced with an increase in comfort.